Clarendon was first established in 1878 when Rev. L. H. Carhart led a group of Methodist colonists to settle this part of the Texas Panhandle.  The town, named in honor of Carhart's wife, Clara, was originally situated at the junction of Carroll Creek and the Salt Fork of the Red River.

The colonists strictly forbade drinking and other sinful habits, and the town quickly garnered the derisive nickname "Saint's Roost" from the area cowboys and folks in the only two other towns in the region - Tascosa and Mobeetie.

Nine years later, it became necessary to move the town when the tracks of the Ft. Worth & Denver City Railway missed Clarendon by five miles.  A town site was located along the railway in 1887 and "new" Clarendon soon replaced the "old" Clarendon.  But it was another 14 years before Clarendon had a city government.

An application for incorporation of the Town of Clarendon was filed Donley County Judge B. H. White on September 9, 1901.  Judge White declared on September 10, 1901, that there were more than 2,000 people living in the area seeking incorporation, and he ordered an election to be held on September 24th.  The vote was 114 "for incorporation" and 90 against the measure.  After canvassing the vote on September 25, 1901, Judge White decreed "the inhabitants of said town of Clarendon be and they are hereby incorporated...."

The first city election was held on Tuesday, October 29, 1901.  Citizens elected I. W. Carhart as Clarendon's first mayor.  Original members of the Board of Aldermen were W. H. Cooke, R. A. Chamberlain, L. C. Beverly, T. J. Noland and F. D. Martin.  George L. Jowell was elected as City Marshall.

Those early city fathers laid the groundwork for the city improvements and services the citizens of Clarendon enjoy today.

City Government

The City of Clarendon has a Mayor-Board of Aldermen form of government.  The governing body is known as the "board of aldermen" and includes six members (a mayor and five aldermen), all of who are elected at-large.  The Mayor and the five members of the Board of Aldermen are elected for two-year terms.  They meet each month every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in the Board Room at City Hall.